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Rio de Janeiro

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Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's top tourist destinations. Often just referred to as "Rio", it is visited by millions of people per year, and is often called the heart of Brazil itself. Guanabara Bay was discovered by Portuguese explorers on January 20th, 1502; hence the name of the city, "River of January". There is a little bit of everything; unlike many hot spots for tourists, it's not just the nightlife and the bars that bring in tourists. Rio has a long history of religious significance, as well as a vivid and diverse culture, and of course great food. There are spas and luxury resorts for those visitors who prefer to spare absolutely no expense; there are theatres, outdoor and in, festivals of many different kinds; whether religious, food related or just cultural, and much more.

And of course, you cannot forget shopping. The fresh produce that can be purchased in Rio's street markets is unparalleled in quality as well as price, since much of Brazil's produce is grown in local farms. For any fashion buff, Rio of course has all the hottest styles in its many luxury boutiques, as well as local designers that exhibit the bright colors and attractive choice clothing of Rio locals.

Areas

The city of Rio de Janeiro is made up of four main "zones", though they each contain several districts. The first is downtown, or locally referred to as "Centro". The downtown area is a mix of financial and historical architecture; almost like a clash of 18th century and 21st century. Eclectic, but not garish. Most of the city's museums, libraries, and large theatres can be found here. The South Zone is by far the most popular, and the most well-known overseas, because this is where all the beach life is! All the gorgeous beaches along the Atlantic are located in the South Zone, and millions of people from all over the world visit every year.

The North Zone is mainly a residential area, but still maintains its charms and major attractions; such as the International Airport of Rio de Janeiro, although that's more of a starting point than a destination. There's also the Maracanã stadium in the North Zone, and the two universities, State University of Rio de Janeiro and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, are also there. The West Zone is farthest away from the tourist areas of Rio. It's currently undergoing many development projects to make the area more tourist friendly (you'll want to read the between the lines at this point, currently the area is not "tourist friendly").

Weather

The climate in Rio is purely tropical; however, because of its location, the rain pattern is very erratic. Rain usually only lasts a couple of hours at a time, so it's not like once it starts visitors will have to stay in all day. The highest temperature in the area has been 110F, and that was back in the 1980's, though it does get very hot in the summer, on average around 28° C/80° F - 31° C/90° F. However, the humidity is extremely high, and many people aren't conditioned for that kind of moisture in the air. If you hate to sweat, stay indoors.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	83	84	82	79	75	73	72	73	74	76	79	81
C	28	29	28	26	24	23	22	23	23	24	26	27

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	5.3	4.9	5.3	4.3	3.1	2	1.8	1.8	2.4	3.2	3.9	81
CM	13.5	12.4	13.5	10.9	7.9	5.1	4.6	4.6	6.1	8.1	9.9	205.7

Getting There

Travel to Rio de Janeiro is easily accomplished, there is an international and regional airport in the city, and flights to and from major destinations, i.e., London, New York, Miami, leave and arrive on a daily basis. Travel by rail to Rio is usually advised against, since the railway is reputed to be underdeveloped for the size of the city, and train stations are scattered out in less than convenient locations.

By plane

There are two main airports in Rio for public use; Rio de Janeiro-Galeão (Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport), and the regional airport Santos Dumont Regional Airport, which used to be the main international airport, and is now used for local destinations. Once you've arrived, getting a bus, taxi, renting a vehicle, or using a shuttle service are all excellent options for making your way to either a hotel or resort.

By boat

Cruise ships can be scheduled and arranged with many different travel agencies that will stop at Rio; it's a very popular destination, so tourists should have no trouble booking a ship. The cost depends on both the agency, and the location you'll be traveling from. The harbor and port for Rio is located right on the coast along the city.

Getting Around

Getting around in Rio is easy enough, although the crime rate in the city is enough to dissuade a lot of tourists from walking as their main method of transportation. Renting a car, traveling by bus, taxi, or rental vehicle are all popular choices. Rio is a major city and urban area, so all of the popular tourist attractions are accessible from the main roads.

By car

Traffic in Rio is a nightmare, to put it succinctly. The population is 6,093,472, as of 2007, and many of those people drive; downtown traffic and beach traffic in peak seasons are the worst. The best option is renting a scooter, which solves numerous parking issues, as well as getting through traffic more easily. You can rent a scooter easily from many different agencies in town, or if you insist, renting a car is easily done at the airport, or at major agencies in the city.

By taxi

Taxis are run by the meter, so tourists should never need to argue over a fare with the driver, and the average price is $3.00 USD per mile. However, the rate does go up on the weekends. Traffic is pretty bad, so if there's a time issue, it's always best to leave as early as possible.

By public transportation

The general quality of public transportation in Rio is fairly well maintained since it’s the main method of transport in the city. Tickets are cheap, and destinations are guaranteed, though timing might be off because of traffic. Rio also has its own metro system, though many advise against it because of crime.

Food & Dining

Rio de Janeiro is a city filled with many different foods to fill just about any craving. The main foods eaten by the locals are still very Mexican in style with ingredients such as salsa, pork, and rice being very common. However, if you're in the mood for Italian or Chinese, you can find that here as well! The main dish in Brazil is feijoada, which is actually known as the national dish and consists of black beans and pork. This wonderful traditional dish is often brewed as a stew and can be found anywhere in the city from street vendors or fine restaurants on Saturdays. If you like buffets, Rio de Janeiro has an interesting twist on the style with their rodizio-style dining. Although it is still all-you-can-eat, the waiters will replenish your plates at your table when you are finished. Other restaurants will weigh your plate and charge by weight.

Beaches

Copacabana Beach (Sand beach) Location: Runs along Avenue Atlantica This beach is not only famous for the song named after it but also for the miles of endless white sand and crashing surf. This beach is definitely the most popular in Rio de Janeiro with tourists and here you can partake in many water activities or simply spend the day lounging under the blazing Brazilian sun! Soak up as much fun as you can while here but beware of the many pickpockets and criminals that loiter the beach, waiting to prey on unsuspecting tourists.

Leme Beach (Sand beach) Location: Beside Copacabana Beach This beach, which tapers off from Copacabana is a bit quieter than the main attraction but it still holds the fascination of the beautiful water and the warm sand between your toes. This is a great place for families as there may be more room to run around and build monster sandcastles. Many locals also prefer this beach to Copacabana and many of them can be found here on the weekends.

Ipanema Beach (Sand beach) Location: On the Bay of Guanabara Other than Copacabana Beach this public beach may be the most visited by tourists to Rio de Janeiro. They come for the sand and surf and stay for the many amenities that are found at this beach including beach chairs and umbrellas, and touring the many different booths of the vendors that set up shop here. Play a game of Frisbee or go for a splash in the refreshing water. During your stay in Rio de Janeiro, this beach should fill at least one of your days!

Botafogo (Sand beach) Location: In the center of the city This is where visitors come when they want to see what life is like in the bustling city while enjoying the surrounding waters at the same time. This beach is surrounded with shopping centers, restaurants, and offices and has a much more commercial feel than the other big beaches of the city. This small inlet of water offers some great water activities and is much quieter than some of the neighboring beaches. This beach will be less crowded but will still have the buzz of the city behind it.

Sights & Activities

Museums

Rio has several museums, all very popular with tourists; these are a few of the top museum destinations:

- National Museum of Fine Arts
- Museum of Modern Art
- National Library
- National History Museum
- Museum of the Republic
- Sound and Image Museum
- Native Brazilian's Museum

Beaches

The beaches in Rio are known for their beauty, accessibility, and of course, for being crowded. However, most of the city's beach destinations are great for family vacations. Here are some Rio's beautiful beaches:

- Copacabana
- Ipanema
- Leblon
- Pepino
- Joatinga
- Barra
- Prainha
- Grumari

Christ The Redeemer

One of the most well-known religious monuments on the planet, it draws millions of tourists to its base every year. And you can't actually go too far without being able to see it, while you're in the city. Religious tourists come from all over the world to view the statue, much as they visit the Statue of Liberty in New York, except with more religious significance, of course.